The Maltese Falcon WIKIPEDIA

The Maltese Falcon1

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia2

Jump to: navigation, search 3

This article is about the novel. For other uses, see The Maltese Falcon (disambiguation). 4

The Maltese Falcon 5

/wiki/Image:MalteseFalcon1930.jpg/wiki/Image:MalteseFalcon1930.jpg6

first edition cover (1930). 7

Author Dashiell Hammett8

Country United States9

Language English10

Genre(s) Detective fiction11

Publisher Alfred A. Knopf12

Publication date 193013

Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)14

Followed by "A Man Called Spade"15

"They Can Only Hang You Once"16

"Too Many Have Lived"17

The Maltese Falcon is a 1930 detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, originally serialized in the magazine "Black Mask". The story has been adapted several times for the cinema. The main character, Sam Spade, appears only in this novel and in three lesser known short stories, yet is widely cited as the crystallizing figure in the development of the hard-boiled private detective genre – Raymond Chandler's character Philip Marlowe, for instance, was strongly influenced by Hammett's Spade. Spade was a departure from Hammett's nameless and less than glamorous detective, The Continental Op. Sam Spade combined several features of previous detectives, most notably his cold detachment, keen eye for detail, and unflinching determination to achieve his own justice. He is the man who has seen the wretched, the corrupt, the tawdry side of life but still retains his "tarnished idealism".18

Contents19

[hide] 20

 1 Plot 21

 2 Analysis 22

 3 Adaptations 23

 4 Notes 24

 5 External links 25

[edit] Plot26

Private eye Sam Spade and his partner Miles Archer are approached by Miss Wonderly to follow a man, Floyd Thursby, who allegedly ran off with her younger sister. The two accept the assignment because the money is good, but Spade also implies that the woman looks like trouble, though she projects wholesome innocence.27

That night, Detective Tom Polhaus informs Spade that Archer has been shot and killed while tailing Thursby. Even later that night, two officers visit Spade at his apartment and inquire about Spade's whereabouts in the last few hours. Spade asks what the visit is really about. The officers say that Thursby was also killed and that Spade is a suspect, since Thursby likely killed Archer. They have no evidence against Spade at the moment, but tell him that they will be conducting an investigation into the matter.28

The next day, Spade gets a visit from Archer's wife, with whom he has been having an affair. The widow asks Spade if he killed Miles so that they could be together. Spade dismisses her and tells her to leave, and coldly orders his secretary Effie to remove all of Archer's belongings from the office. He then goes to a new address left in a note from his client, whose name he learns is Brigid O'Shaughnessy. He also finds out that Brigid never had a sister, and Thursby was her acquaintance who had betrayed her.29

Later, Spade is visited by another man, Joel Cairo, who offers Spade $5000 if the private eye can retrieve a figurine of a black bird that has recently arrived. While Spade has no idea what the man is talking about, he plays along. Suddenly, Cairo pulls a gun on Spade, and declares his intention to search Spade's office. But when he approaches Spade to search his person, Spade disarms him and knocks him unconscious. After cataloguing Cairo's belongings and questioning him in return, Spade returns Cairo's firearm and allows the man to search his office. Following this, Spade is again contacted by Brigid O'Shaughnessy. She offers her sympathies for the death of his partner. Spade senses a connection between O'Shaughnessy and Cairo, and casually mentions that Cairo has contacted him. O'Shaughnessy gets extremely nervous when she hears this. She tells Spade that she must meet with Cairo, and asks Spade to arrange a meeting. Spade agrees.30

/wiki/Image:BlackMaskFalcon2.jpg/wiki/Image:BlackMaskFalcon2.jpg31

/wiki/Image:BlackMaskFalcon2.jpgCover of the magazine "Black Mask", September 1929, featuring part 1 of its serialization of The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett. The illustration is of detective Sam Spade by Henry C. Murphy, Jr. 32

When Cairo and Brigid O'Shaughnessy meet, they make references that the reader and Spade don't initially comprehend. Cairo says he is ready to pay for the black figurine. Brigid O'Shaughnessy, however, says she does not have it at the moment. They also refer to a mysterious figure, "G" ("the fat man" in the film), whom they seem to be scared of. The two then continue to talk about some events that happened overseas. Eventually, O'Shaughnessy insinuates that Cairo is a homosexual, and Cairo insinuates that O'Shaughnessy simply uses her body to get what she wants, and the two begin to fight. At this point, the police show up, coincidentally, to talk to Spade. Spade greets them at the door, but refuses to let them in. The officers say they know Spade was having an affair with Archer's wife; just as they are about to leave, they hear Cairo screaming for help. They force their way into Spade's apartment, and Spade invents a story that involves describing how Cairo and O'Shaughnessy were just play-acting. The officers seem to accept, if not believe, Spade's story, but they take Cairo with them down to the station for some "grilling". Spade sends Brigid to stay with Effie, where she will be safe.33

The next morning, Spade makes his way to the hotel where Cairo is staying. Cairo shows up disheveled, saying that he was held in police custody through the night. Meanwhile, Spade notices that he's being tailed by some kid named Wilmer Cook. He confronts the gunsel[1], and tells him that both he and his boss, "G," will have to deal with him at some point. He later receives a call from Casper Gutman, who wishes to meet with him. Gutman, a huge person weighing over 300 lbs, says he will pay handsomely for the black bird. Spade implies that he can get the item (though at this point this is a bluff), but wants to know what it is first.34

Gutman tells him that the figurine was a gift from the Island of Malta to the King of Spain a few hundred years ago, but was lost on ship in transit. It was covered with fine jewels, but acquired a layer of black enamel at some time, to conceal its value (estimated to be in the millions). Gutman learned of its whereabouts seventeen years ago, and has been looking for it ever since. He traced it to the home of a Russian General, then sent three of his 'agents' (Cairo, Thursby and Brigid O'Shaughnessy) to get it. The latter supposedly did retrieve the figurine, but learned of its value and decided to keep it for themselves. Spade starts to get dizzy at this point (Gutman has drugged him), and when he goes to leave, Wilmer trips him and knocks him out by kicking his temple.35

/wiki/Image:Maltesefalcon1931.jpg/wiki/Image:Maltesefalcon1931.jpg36

/wiki/Image:Maltesefalcon1931.jpg37

Bebe Daniels as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in the 1931 film adaptation38

When Spade awakens, he returns to his office and tells the story of the Maltese Falcon to Effie. Soon afterwards, an injured man, identified as Captain Jacobi of "La Paloma," shows up at the office; he drops a package on the floor and then dies of gunshot wounds. Spade opens the package, and finds the figurine falcon. Sam is called away from the office. To prevent losing the item, Spade stores the package at a bus station lost luggage counter and mails himself the collection tag. He first goes to the dock where "La Paloma" was anchored, but learns that a fire had been started on board. He then proceeds to the place Rhea Gutman said she was when she phoned earlier. There he finds a drugged-up, seventeen-year old girl, her stomach all scratched up by a pin in attempts to keep herself awake, who just manages to give him some information about the whereabouts of Brigid, which turns out to be a false lead.39

When he arrives back at his apartment, he finds O'Shaughnessy in a shadowy doorway. Inside, Wilmer, Cairo, and Gutman are there waiting. Gutman hands Spade $10,000 in cash in exchange for the bird. Spade takes the money, but in addition says that they need a "fall guy" to take the blame for the murders of at least Thursby and Jacobi, if not Archer as well. Reluctantly, both Cairo and Gutman agree to make Wilmer the fall guy. Gutman proceeds to tell Spade the missing pieces of the story. The night that Thursby was killed, he was first approached by Wilmer and Gutman. The latter attempted to reason with him, but Thursby remained loyal to Brigid O'Shaughnessy and refused to cooperate. Later things escalated, then Wilmer shot Thursby. Also, Brigid O'Shaughnessy had seduced Captain Jacobi and hid the Falcon with him. Later, Brigid O'Shaughnessy instructed Jacobi to deliver the package to Spade. Once Gutman learned of this fact, he attempted to remove Spade from the situation with the spiked drink. Wilmer managed to shoot the captain, but Jacobi still got to Spade's office to deliver the figurine. After finishing his story, Gutman warns Spade to be very careful with Brigid O'Shaughnessy as she is not to be trusted.40

/wiki/Image:Satan_Met_a_Lady_screenshot.jpg/wiki/Image:Satan_Met_a_Lady_screenshot.jpg41

/wiki/Image:Satan_Met_a_Lady_screenshot.jpg42

Bette Davis and Warren William in Satan Met a Lady (1936), a loose adaptation of The Maltese Falcon43

Spade places a call to his secretary, Effie, and asks her to go the office and pick up the figurine. Effie brings it to Spade's apartment, and Spade hands the package to Gutman, who at this time is overwhelmed with excitement. He checks the figurine, but quickly learns that it is a fake. He realizes with dismay that the Russian must have discovered the true value of the falcon and made a copy. During this time, Wilmer manages to escape from Spade's apartment. Gutman quickly regains composure, and decides to go back to Europe to continue the search. Before he leaves, Gutman asks Spade for the $10,000. Spade returns $9000, saying he's keeping the remainder for his time and expenses. Then Cairo and Gutman leave Spade's apartment.44

Immediately after Cairo and Gutman leave, Spade phones the police department and tells them the entire story. Wilmer killed Jacobi and Thursby. He also tells them what hotel Gutman is staying at and urges them to hurry, since Gutman and Cairo are leaving town soon. Afterwards, Spade angrily asks Brigid O'Shaughnessy why she killed Miles Archer. At first, Brigid O'Shaughnessy acts horrified at this accusation, but seeing that she cannot lie anymore, she drops the act. She wanted to get Thursby out of the picture so that she could have the Falcon for herself, so she hired Archer to scare him off. When Thursby didn't leave, she killed Archer and attempted to pin the crime on Thursby. When Thursby was later killed himself, she knew that Gutman was in town and that she needed another protector, so she came back to Spade.45

/wiki/Image:TheMalteseFalcon3_sz175.jpg/wiki/Image:TheMalteseFalcon3_sz175.jpg46

/wiki/Image:TheMalteseFalcon3_sz175.jpg47

Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade in the 1941 film adaptation48

However, she says that she's also in love with Spade and would have come back to him anyhow. Spade coldly replies that the penalty for murder is most likely twenty years, and he'll wait for her until she gets out. If they hang her, Spade says that he'll always remember her. He goes on to say that while he despised Miles Archer, the man was his partner, and that he's going to turn her in to the police for his murder as that was a line he could not cross in the industry of detective work. Brigid O'Shaughnessy begs him not to, but he replies that he has no choice. When the police get Gutman, Gutman will finger Sam and Brigid as accomplices. Thus the only way Spade can avoid getting charged is to say he played both sides against each other. He tells Brigid O'Shaughnessy that he has some feelings for her, but that he simply can't trust her. Just before the police arrive, Brigid O'Shaughnessy asks Spade if the Falcon had been real, and he'd gotten the entire $10,000, would it have made a difference. Spade replies that, while she shouldn't be so sure that he's crooked, more money would have been one more item on "her side."49

When the police finally show up at Spade's apartment, Spade immediately turns over Brigid O'Shaughnessy as Archer's killer. They tell Spade that the kid Wilmer was waiting for Gutman at the hotel and shot him when he arrived. Spade also hands over the $1000 bill, and the falcon to the police as evidence.50

Later, when Spade arrives back at the office, he tells his secretary, Effie, the entire story. She asks Sam if he sent Brigid O'Shaughnessy to jail. He smugly replies "Your Sam's a detective." She is disgusted by his actions, and asks him not to touch her. The novel ends when Archer's widow again shows up at the office.51

[edit] Analysis52

In this novel, Hammett redefines many of the conventions of the "hard-boiled" detective genre. Spade is a bitter, sardonic character who lets the police and the criminals think he is in with the criminals while he works singlemindedly to catch the crooks. Brigid O'Shaughnessy is the classic femme fatale. The other crooks are manipulative and self-centered (or merely self-centered) with no concern for anyone's well-being except their own.53

However, unlike some other hard-boiled detectives who have a strong sense of idealism underneath the cynical shell, Hammett never provides a clear statement of Spade's notion of morality. Spade attempts to explain himself to Brigid O'Shaughnessy with the Flitcraft parable, in which Hammett makes an oblique reference to the philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, but O'Shaughnessy has no idea what he is getting at.54

At the time of Miles Archer's death, Spade is having an affair with Archer's wife, and while he does the "right thing" in the end, catching and turning in Archer's murderer, his reasons for doing so are somewhat ambiguous. Although he expresses a strong professional ethic ("When a man's partner is killed he's supposed to do something about it. It doesn't make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you're supposed to do something about it") it also has an element of self-interest about it ("[W]hen one of your organization gets killed it's bad business to let the killer get away with it. It's bad all around - bad for that one organization, bad for every detective everywhere"). It is left unclear whether Spade might have chosen not to turn Brigid in if there was a bigger monetary gain for him ("...a lot more money would have been one more item on your side"), but certain that his emotional attachment to her (however strong that is) is not sufficient to overcome the risks involved with letting her go. Spade's blatant calculus of risk, reward and duty with which Hammett ends the novel contains remarkably little trace of morality.55

Additionally, the Maltese Falcon itself is a good example of a MacGuffin,[2] in that it serves as motivation for several of the character's actions but has little other significance.56

The Maltese Falcon (1941) 57

DISSOLVE TO:58

17. INT. HALLWAY - CORONET APARTMENTS - CLOSE SHOT - SPADE59

pressing the buzzer of Apartment 1001. Miss Wonderly, in a60

belted green crepe dress, opens the door immediately. Her61

face is flushed. Her hair parted on the left side sweeping62

back in loose waves over her right temple, is somewhat63

tousled.64

SPADE65

(taking off his hat)66

Good morning.67

MISS WONDERLY68

(lowers her head69

-- then in a hushed70

timid voice)71

Come in, Mr. Spade.72

18. INT. LIVING ROOM73

Several bags stand open on the floor. Miss Wonderly and74

Spade enter from the hall.75

MISS WONDERLY76

Everything is upside-down. I haven't77

even finished unpacking.78

She lays his hat on a table, sits down on a walnut settee.79

Spade sits on a brocaded oval-backed chair, facing her.80

She looks at her fingers, working them together. Then:81

Come in, Mr. Spade. Everything's upside down. I haven't finished unpacking. 82

27.83

MISS WONDERLY84

Mr. Spade, I've a terrible, terrible85

confession to make.86

He makes a polite smile.87

MISS WONDERLY88

That -- that story I told you89

yesterday was all -- a story.90

(she stammers,91

looks at him92

with miserable93

frightened eyes)94

SPADE95

Oh, that...96

(lightly)97

We didn't exactly believe your story,98

Miss -- Miss -- is your name Wonderly99

or Leblanc?100

MISS WONDERLY101

(working her fingers again)102

It's really O'Shaughnessy -- Brigid103

O'Shaughnessy.104

SPADE105

We didn't exactly believe your story,106

Miss O'Shaughnessy. We believed your107

two hundred dollars.108

BRIGID109

You mean...110

SPADE111

I mean, that you paid us more than112

if you had been telling us the113

truth...114

(blandly)115

...and enough more to make it all116

right.117

BRIGID118

(bites her lip)119

Mr. Spade, tell me...120

(her face becomes121

haggard, eyes122

desperate)123

Am I to blame -- for last night?124

Sit down. Mr. Spade, I... ...I have a terrible, terrible confession to make. That story I told you yesterday... ...was just a story. Oh, that. Well, we didn't exactly believe your story, Miss... What is your name, Wonderly or LeBlanc? It's O'Shaughnessy. Brigid O'Shaughnessy. We didn't exactly believe your story. We believed your $ . You mean... You paid us more than if you'd told the truth... ...and enough more to make it all right. Tell me, Mr. Spade, am I to blame for last night? 125

You warned us that Thursby was dangerous. You lied to us about your sister and all that, but we didn't believe you. No, I wouldn't say that you were at fault. Thank you. Mr. Archer was so alive yesterday... ...so solid and hearty, and... - Stop it. He knew what he was doing. Those are the chances we take. Was he married? Yeah, with $ insurance, no children, and a wife that didn't like him. - Please don't. - That's the way it was. Anyway, there's no time for worrying about that now. Out there's a flock of policemen and assistant DAs... ...running around with their noses to the ground. 126

29.127

BRIGID128

(her voice thin129

and tremulous)130

Mr. Spade, do they know about me?131

SPADE132

Not yet. I've been stalling them133

until I could see you.134

BRIGID135

Must they know about me at all,136

Mr. Spade? Couldn't you somehow137

manage to shield me from them?138

So I won't have to answer their139

questions?140

SPADE141

Maybe. But I'll have to know what142

it's all about.143

She rises, puts a timid hand to his coat sleeve.144

BRIGID145

I can't tell you -- I can't tell146

you now -- later I will -- when I147

can. You must trust me Mr. Spade.148

Oh, I'm so alone and afraid!149

I've got nobody to help me if150

you won't help me.151

(begging)152

Be generous, Mr. Spade. You're153

strong. You're brave. You can154

spare me some of that strength155

and courage, surely.156

(she drops to her157

knees, her hand158

touching his, clings159

pitifully)160

Help me, Mr. Spade! I need help161

so badly. I've no right to ask162

you but I do ask you. Help me!163

Spade empties his lungs with a long sighing exhalation.164

SPADE165

You won't need much of anybody's166

help. You're good. It's chiefly167

your eyes, I think, and that throb168

you get in your voice when you169

say things like "Be generous,170

Mr. Spade."171

Mr. Spade, do they know about me? Not yet. I've been stalling 'em until I could see you. Do they have to know? Can't you shield me so I won't have to answer their questions? Maybe, but I gotta know what it's all about. I can't tell you. I can't tell you now. I will later, when I can. You've got to trust me, Mr. Spade. I'm so alone and afraid. I've got nobody to help me if you won't help me. Be generous, Mr. Spade. You're brave. You're strong. You can spare me some of that courage and strength, surely. Help me, Mr. Spade. I need help so badly. I've no right to ask you, I know I haven't, but I do ask you. Help me. 172

You won't need much of anybody's help. You're good. It's chiefly your eyes, and that throb you got in your voice... ...when you say things like, "Be generous, Mr. Spade". 173

30.174

She jumps to her feet. Her face blanching painfully, but175

she holds her head erect and she looks Spade straight in176

the eye.177

BRIGID178

(voice chilled)179

I deserve that. But -- Oh -- the180

lie was in the way I said it and181

not at all in what I said.182

(lips trembling183

slightly, but184

head still erect)185

It's my own fault that you can't186

believe me now.187

Spade's face darkens. He looks down at the floor.188

SPADE189

(muttering)190

Now you are dangerous.191

Brigid O'Shaughnessy goes to the table, picks up his hat.192

She comes back and stands in front of him, holding the hat193

for him to take if he wishes. Her face is thin, haggard.194

SPADE195

(looking at his hat)196

I've got nothing against trusting197

you blindly except that I won't198

be able to do you much good if I199

haven't some idea of what it's all200

about201

She puts his hat on the table, slips down onto the settee202

again. Brigid O'Shaughnessy shakes her head and says nothing.203

I deserve that. But the lie was in the way I said it, not at all in what I said. It's my own fault if you can't believe me now. Now, you are dangerous. 204

49.205

SPADE206

That's good -- coming from you.207

What have you given me besides208

money? Have you given me any of209

your confidence? Any of the truth?210

Haven't you tried to buy my loyalty211

with money and nothing else?212

BRIGID213

I've given you all the money I have.214

(tears glisten215

in her eyes,216

her voice is217

hoarse, vibrant)218

I've thrown myself on your mercy --219

told you that without your help I'm220

utterly lost.221

(she turns on222

him suddenly --223

cries in a224

vibrant voice)225

What else is there that I can buy226

you with?227

Spade takes her face between his hands, kisses her mouth228

roughly and contemptuously, then releasing her, he sits229

back. She sits, holding her face where his hands left it.230

Spade gets up, takes two steps towards the fireplace,231

halts. Brigid doesn't move. He turns to face her.232

SPADE233

I don't care what your secrets are234

-- but I can't go ahead without more235

confidence in you than I have now.236

You've got to convince me that you237

know what it's all about -- that you238

aren't simply fiddling along hoping239

it'll all come out right in the end.240

BRIGID241

Can't you trust me a little longer?242

SPADE243

How much is a little? And what are244

you waiting for?245

She bites her lip, looks down.246

71.247

BRIGID248

I don't know.249

SPADE250

(casually)251

Your are a liar.252

She gets up and stands at the end of the table looking253

down at him with dark abashed eyes.254

BRIGID255

I am a liar. I've always been a256

liar.257

SPADE258

(good-humoredly)259

Don't brag about it. Was there any260

truth at all in that yarn?261

BRIGID262

(lowers her head263

slightly -- whispers)264

Some... Not very much.265

Spade rises, crosses to her. He puts his hand under her266

chin, lifts her head. Her eyes are damp. He laughs into267

them.268

SPADE269

We've got all night before us. I'll270

put some coffee on and we'll try271

again.272

BRIGID273

(her eyelids droop)274

Oh -- I'm so tired.275

(then tremulously)276

So tired... of lying and thinking277

up lies and not knowing what is a278

lie and what is the truth. I wish279

I...280

She puts her hands up to Spade's cheeks, her mouth hard281

against his mouth -- her body flat against his body.282

Spade's arms go around her, holding her to him. Muscles283

bulge his sleeves as his hand cradles her head, his fingers284

lost among her hair.285

FADE OUT.286

146.287

SPADE (CONT'D)288

They just left here for the Alexandria289

Hotel, but they're blowing town so290

you'll have to move fast... I don't291

think they're expecting a pinch...292

Watch yourself when you go up293

against the kid... That's right,294

Tom... and good luck.295

Spade slowly replaces the receiver on the prong. He fills296

his chest with air and exhales. His eyes are glittering297

between narrowed lids. He turns, takes three swift steps298

toward Brigid O'Shaughnessy. The girl, startled by the299

suddenness of his approach, lets her breath out in a little300

gasp. Spade, face to face with Brigid, looks at her hard301

of jaw and eye.302

SPADE303

They'll talk when they're nailed --304

about us. We're sitting on dynamite.305

We've only got minutes to get set for306

the police. Give me all of it fast.307

She starts to speak, hesitates, bites her lip. Spade takes308

her by the shoulder, cries angrily:309

SPADE310

Talk.311

BRIGID312

(uncertainly)313

Where... shall... I... begin?314

SPADE315

The day you first came to my office...316

Why did you want Thursby shadowed?317

BRIGID318

I told you, Sam, I suspected him319

of betraying me and I wanted to320

find out.321

SPADE322

That's a lie! You had Thursby323

hooked and you knew it. You wanted324

to get him out of the way before325

Jacoby came with the loot. Isn't326

that so?327

Brigid lowers her eyes shame-facedly.328

SPADE329

What was your scheme?330

They'll talk when they're nailed about us. We only have minutes to get set for the police. Give me all of it fast! When you first came to me, why did you want Thursby shadowed? I thought he betrayed me. I wanted to find out. A lie! You knew you had Thursby hooked! You wanted to kill him... ...before Jacoby came with the loot so you wouldn't have to split it with him. Right? If he knew someone was following him, he'd be frightened away. Miles wasn't clumsy enough to be spotted the first night. You told Thursby he was being followed. I told him. I told him. Yes, but please believe me. I wouldn't have if I thought Floyd would kill him. If you thought he wouldn't kill Miles, you were right. Miles hadn't many brains, but too much experience... ...as a detective to be caught by a man he was shadowing... ...up a blind alley with his gun and his overcoat buttoned. But he'd have gone up there with you, angel. He was just dumb enough for that. He'd have looked you up and down, licked his lips and gone... ...grinning from ear to ear. You could have stood as close to him as you liked... ...and shot him with a gun you got from Thursby that night. - Don't say that! - The police'll be here any minute! Talk! Why do you accuse me... It's not the time for that schoolgirl act! We're both sitting under the gallows! Now, why did you shoot Miles? I didn't mean to at first, really, I didn't. But when I found out that Floyd couldn't be frightened... I can't look at you and tell you this! You thought Thursby would tackle Miles and one would go down. If Thursby died, you were rid of him. If it was Miles, you'd see Thursby was caught. - Right? - Something like that. When Thursby wouldn't tackle him... ...you took his gun and did it yourself, right? When you heard Thursby was shot, you knew Gutman was here! You knew you needed another protector... ...somebody to fill Thursby's boots, so you came back to me. 331

149.332

BRIGID333

S -- something -- like -- that.334

SPADE335

Right?336

She nods mutely.337

SPADE338

so you came back to me.339

She puts her hands up around the back of his neck pushing340

his head down until his mouth all but touches hers.341

BRIGID342

Yes, but -- Oh, sweetheart, it343

wasn't only that. I would have344

come back to you sooner or later.345

From the very first instant I saw346

you I knew...347

He puts his arms around her holding her tight to him.348

SPADE349

(tenderly)350

You Angel! Well, if you get a351

good break, you'll be out of San352

Quentin in twenty years and you353

can come back to me then.354

She draws away from him slightly, throws her head far back355

to stare up at him, uncomprehending.356

SPADE357

(tenderly)358

I hope they don't hang you, Precious,359

by that sweet neck.360

He puts his hand up and caresses her throat. In an instant361

she is out of his arms back against the table crouching,362

both hands spread over her throat. Her face is wild-eyed,363

haggard. Her mouth opens and closes.364

150.365

BRIGID366

(in a small,367

parched voice)368

You're not?...369

(she can get no370

other words out)371

Spade's face is damp with sweat now. His mouth smiles372

and there are smile wrinkles around his glittering eyes.373

SPADE374

(gently)375

I'm going to send you over. The376

chances are you'll get off with377

life. That means you'll be out378

again in twenty years. You're379

an angel! I'll wait for you.380

(he clears his381

throat)382

If they hang you, I'll always383

remember you.384

Brigid drops her hands, stands erect. Her face becomes385

smooth and untroubled except for the faintest of dubious386

glints in her eyes. She smiles back at him.387

BRIGID388

Don't, Sam. Don't say that -- even389

in fun. Oh, you frightened me for390

a moment. I really thought -- you391

do such wild and unpredictable392

things...393

She breaks off, thrusts her head forward and stares deep394

into his eyes. The flesh around her mouth shivers and fear395

comes back into her eyes. She puts her hands to her throat396

again. Spade laughs. His laugh is a croak.397

SPADE398

Don't be silly. You're taking399

the fall.400

BRIGID401

But -- but, Sam, you can't! Not402

after what we've been to each403

other. You can't!404

(she takes a long405

trembling breath)406

You've been playing with me -- only407

pretending you cared -- to trap me408

like this. You didn't -- care at409

all. You -- don't -- l -- love me.410

Yes! Sweetheart, it wasn't only that! I'd have come back to you sooner or later. From the very first instant I saw you, I knew. Well, if you get a good break, you'll be out of Tehachapi in years... ...and you can come back to me then. I hope they don't hang you, precious, by that sweet neck. - You're not... - Yes, angel, I'm gonna send you over. The chances are you'll get off with life. If you're a good girl, you'll be out in years. I'll be waiting for you. If they hang you, I'll always remember you. Don't, Sam! Don't say that, even in fun! I was frightened for a minute. I really thought... You do such wild and unpredictable things. Now, don't be silly. You're taking the fall. You've been playing with me... ...just pretending you cared to trap me like this. You didn't care at all! You don't love me! 411

151.412

The muscles holding his smile stand out like walls.413

SPADE414

I think I do. What of it? I415

won't play the sap for you.416

BRIGID417

(tears come to her eyes)418

You know it is not like that! You419

can't say that!420

SPADE421

I am saying it. You've never played422

square with me for half an hour at423

a stretch since I've known you.424

Brigid blinks her tears away, takes a few steps backward,425

stands looking at him, straight and proud.426

BRIGID427

You know, down deep in your heart428

you know that in spite of anything429

I've done, I love you.430

He puts his hand back on her shoulder, the hand shakes and431

jerks.432

SPADE433

I don't care who loves who. I'm434

not going to play the sap for you.435

I won't walk in Thursby's -- and436

I don't know how many others --437

footsteps. You killed Miles and438

you're going over for it.439

She takes his hand from her shoulder, holds it close to her440

face.441

BRIGID442

Why must you do this to me, Sam?443

Surely Mr. Archer wasn't as much444

to you as --445

He is no longer smiling. He pulls his hand away from her.446

His wet face is set hard and deeply lined. His eyes burn447

madly.448

SPADE449

Listen... This won't do any good.450

You'll never understand me but I'll451

try once and then give it up.452

Listen... When a man's partner is453

killed, he's supposed to do454

something about it.455

(MORE)456

I won't play the sap for you! You know it's not like that! You never played square with me since I've known you! You know in your heart that in spite of anything I've done, I love you. I don't care who loves who! I won't play the sap! 457

I won't walk in Thursby's, and I don't know how many others' footsteps! You killed Miles and you're going over for it.458

How can you do this to me, Sam? Surely, Mr. Archer wasn't as much to you as... Listen. This won't do any good. You'll never understand me, but I'll try once and then give it up. When a man's partner is killed, he's supposed to do something. 459

152.460

SPADE (CONT'D)461

It doesn't make any difference what462

you thought of him. He was your partner463

and you're supposed to do something464

about it. Then it happens we're in465

the detective business. Well, when466

one of your organization gets killed,467

it's bad business to let the killer468

get away with it -- bad all around469

-- bad for every detective470

everywhere.471

BRIGID472

You don't expect me to think that473

these things you're saying are474

sufficient reason for sending me to475

the...?476

SPADE477

Wait till I'm through. Then you can478

talk. Third. I've no earthly479

reason to think I can trust you and480

if I did this and got away with it,481

you'd have something on me you could482

use whenever you wanted to. Next:483

since I've got something on you, I484

couldn't be sure you wouldn't decide485

to put a hole in me some day.486

Fifth. I wouldn't even like the487

idea of thinking that there might be488

one chance in a hundred that you'd489

played me for a sucker. And sixth:490

But that's enough. All those are on491

one side. Maybe some of them are492

unimportant. I won't argue about493

that. But look at the number of494

them. Now, on the other side we've495

got what? All we've got is that496

maybe you love me and maybe I love497

you.498

BRIGID499

(whispers)500

You know whether you love me or not.501

SPADE502

Maybe I do.503

He looks hungrily from her hair to her feet and up to her504

eyes again.505

It makes no difference what you thought of him. He was your partner, and you're supposed to do something about it... ...and it happens we're in the detective business. Well, when one of your organization gets killed, it's... ...it's bad business to let the killer get away with it... ...bad all around, bad for every detective everywhere. You don't expect me to think that these are sufficient reasons for sending me... 506

Wait'll I'm through. Then, you can talk. I've no earthly reason to think I can trust you. If I do this and get away with it, you'll have something on me... ...that you can use whenever you want to. Since I've got something on you... ...I couldn't be sure that you wouldn't put a hole in me someday. All those are on one side. Maybe some of them are unimportant. I won't argue about that. But look at the number of them. What have we got on the other side? All we've got is that maybe you love me and maybe I love you. You know whether you love me or not. Maybe I do. 507

153.508

SPADE509

What of it? Maybe next month I won't.510

I've been through it before. I'll511

have some rotten nights after I've512

sent you over but that'll pass.513

(he takes her514

by the shoulders,515

bends her back516

leaning over her)517

If all I've said doesn't mean518

anything to you, forget it and we'll519

make it just this. I won't because520

all of me wants to -- regardless of521

consequences -- and because you've522

counted on that with me the same as523

you counted on that with the524

others...525

(he takes his526

hands from527

her shoulders,528

lets them fall529

to his side)530

She puts her hands up to his cheeks, draws his face down531

toward her again.532

BRIGID533

Look at me and tell me the truth.534

Would you have done this to me if535

the Falcon had been real and you536

had been paid your money?537

SPADE538

Don't be too sure I'm as crooked539

as I'm supposed to be. That kind540

of reputation might be good business541

bringing in high-priced jobs and542

making it easier to deal with the543

enemy.544

She looks at him, says nothing. Spade moves his shoulders545

a little.546

SPADE547

But a lot of money would have been548

at least one more item on your side549

of the scales.550

BRIGID551

(whispers)552

If you loved me, you'd need nothing553

more on that side.554

I'll have some rotten nights after I've sent you over, but that'll pass. If all I've said doesn't mean anything to you... ...then forget it and we'll make it just this: I won't, because all of me wants to regardless of consequences... ...and because you've counted on it... ...the same as you counted on it with all the others. 555

Would you have done this if the falcon were real and you got your money? Don't be too sure I'm as crooked as I'm supposed to be. That sort of reputation might be good business... ...bringing high-priced jobs and making it easier to deal with the enemy... ...but a lot more money would have been one more item on your side of the scales. If you'd loved me, you wouldn't have needed any more on that side. 556

154.557

SPADE558

(his voice a559

hoarse creak)560

I won't play the sap for you.561

She puts her mouth to his slowly and is in his arms when562

the doorbell RINGS. Before he releases her he calls:563

SPADE564

Come in.565

123. MED. SHOT - ROOM - ANGLE ON DOOR566

Lieutenant Dundy, Tom Polhaus and two other detectives567

enter. They look back and forth from Spade to the girl.568

SPADE569

Hello, Tom... Got them?570

POLHAUS571

(nods)572

Got them.573

SPADE574

Swell... Here's another one for you.575

(he pushes Brigid forward)576

She killed Miles -- and I've got577

some exhibits.578

He goes to the closet, unlocks the door, steps into579

the closet.580

SPADE'S VOICE581

(from closet)582

The boy's guns and one of Cairo's583

-- and a thousand dollar bill I was584

supposed to be bribed with.585

He comes out of the closet, gives the guns to Polhaus.586

SPADE587

And that black statuette on the588

table there that all the fuss589

was about...590

He turns to Dundy, draws his brows together, leans forward591

to peer into the lieutenant's face, starts to laugh.592

SPADE593

What's the matter with your little594

playmate, Tom? He looks heart-broken.595

I bet when he heard Gutman's story596

he thought he had me at last.597

Come in. Hello, Tom. Got 'em? Got 'em. Swell! Here's another one for you. She killed Miles. Oh, and I've got some exhibits: the boy's guns, one of Cairo's... ...and a $ bill I was supposed to be bribed with... ...and this black statuette here that all the fuss was about. What's the matter with your playmate? He looks brokenhearted. I bet when he heard Gutman's story, he thought he had me. 598

155.599

POLHAUS600

(grumbles)601

Cut it out, Sam.602

(he looks uneasily603

at his superior)604

SPADE605

(nods)606

Ought to have expected that.607

(picks up his608

hat, puts it on)609

Shall we be getting down to the610

Hall?611

Brigid's face and movements are like a sleepwalker's.612

SPADE613

Your Sam's a detective.614

Cut it out, Sam. Well, shall we be getting down to the Hall? It's heavy. What is it? The stuff that dreams are made of. 615